CAPTURING OCEAN GLORY ONE BEAUTIFUL SHOT AT A TIME

JETT BRITNELL & KATHRYN BRITNELL

Most of the ocean’s glory lies deep beneath its surface. And most of us only get a glimpse of it when photographers or filmmakers share images from the deep.

It’s one thing to dive and directly experience the incredible colors, textures, and varieties of  aquatic life and light, it’s another thing entirely to capture the excitement and vibrancy, in its true glory, and communicate those images and stories in ways that take our breath away.

Canadian underwater photographer Jett Britnell gets the glory regularly -- even more impressive is the fact that he is self-taught. He is also a certified scuba diver. Kathryn Britnell, Jett’s wife, commands her own ocean spotlight.

The Britnells are both internationally published underwater photographers, travel writers, ocean conservationists, and shark advocates. They are two of Canada’s most frequently published diving photojournalists, regularly featured in diving publications, travel and lifestyle magazines, books, calendars, websites, and commercial advertisements worldwide.

The ocean has been Jett’s main passion since he was 5 years old -- then an avid fan of the Sea Hunt tv series. Admittedly, I never missed an episode of Sea Hunt back then either. Jett’s childhood heroes were Ron & Valerie Taylor, best known for filming sharks. Kathryn sparked her ocean passion as an underwater model.

The Britnell’s favorite place to dive in the world is practically in his own back yard --  the cold waters of British Columbia’s Emerald Sea.

Jett’s photos are extraordinary in their capture of color -- not an easy undertaking underwater. With its brilliant jeweltone hues, in wild shapes and infinite combinations, he’s like a kid in the ocean’s kaleidoscopic “candy shop.”

Jett gets particularly excited when he captures images of rare creatures, such as this fascinating peek at a rare Elegant Coastal Shrimp (Heptacarpus decorus). Its translucent body becomes more visible against an orange sea pen’s colonies of polyp formations.

Jett was recently named a Fellow in the prestigious Royal Geographical Society (RGS) with the Institute of British Geographers.

RGS is committed to the wider public understanding, promotion, development and enjoyment of geography, together with its application to the challenges facing society and the environment and has supported many famous British explorers and expeditions, including those of Sir Charles Darwin, legendary African explorer Dr. David Livingstone, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Sir Robert Scott, and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, to name a few.

Jett was also recently named a Fellow in the world renowned Explorers Club, dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration, and “the instinct to explore.”

The Britnells are both members of the Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia and the British Columbia Association of Travel Writers. They are former Dive Travel Editors for NORTHWEST DIVE NEWS. Jett was also a contributing editor for DIVER Magazine.

Scuba Diver Ocean Planet magazine recently listed Jett as being one of the most inspiring underwater photographers in the world.

Jett is presently a member of the highly esteemed Ocean Artists Society, a unique alliance of the world's top marine life artists, sculptors, painters, photographers, and filmmakers, who use their talents to foster an interest in the ocean arts and marine-life issues. The list of members includes people such as Wyland, Bob Talbot, Ron & Valerie Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle.

For more about Jett & Kathryn’s work visit their website, www.jettbritnell.com.

Read more about Ocean Glory in Eco Luxury & Help Save Oceans Too, Teeny Weeny Bikini Makes Big Impact to Save Oceans, 10 Most Beautiful Images, Ideas, & Quotes About Oceans and Artist & Ocean Collaborate in New Undersea Museum.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Jett Britnell. Colorful pink sea anemones and pink and white striped sea snail.
2. Image: by Jett Britnell. Incredible rainbow reef.
3. Image: by Jett Britnell. “The Nudibranch, A Naked Gill Sea Slug.”
4. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Red-eye medusa jellyfish.”
5. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Wolf eel chomping on red sea urchin.”
6. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Sockeye Salmon.”
7. Image: by Jett Britnell. Stunning ocean life.
8. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Elegant Coastal Shrimp.”
9. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Candy striped shrimp.”
10. Image: by Jett Britnell. Gorgeous sea life.
11. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Gooseneck barnacles.”
12. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Red Irish Lord Sculpin.”
13. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Giant Pacific Octopus.”
14. Image: by Jett Britnell. A beautiful large whale.
15. Image: by BN App - Download now!
16. Image: by Jett Britnell. “Oceanic Whitetip Shark.”